Vocabulary game device

ABSTRACT

A vocabulary game device having a stationary disc inscribed with spaces in radial and concentric rows. Prefixes, suffixes and roots of words are inscribed in said spaces. Rotatively supported on the stationary disc is an intermediate disc having a plurality of openings which are radially spaced to expose inscribed spaces on the stationary disc, and angularly offset to provide a series of diagonally arranged openings over the radial row of inscribed spaces of the stationary disc. A top cover disc is further provided having a plurality of openings angularly spaced therearound at angles which are the quotient of the number of concentric rows of inscribed spaces divided into 360*; and each thereof being radially disposed from the center to one of the radial spaces of the stationary disc. The game device structure according to my invention allows the provision of numerous inscriptions which are the subject matter of the game and means for selecting only one of the inscriptions with a very low probability of repeat selection.

United States Patent [191 Jackson 1 Apr. 16, 1974 1 VOCABULARFY GAME DEVICE 22 Filed: Feb. 22, 1973 211 App]. No.: 334,903

[52] US. Cl 273/142 HA, 40/70 R [51] Int. Cl. A63f 5/04 [58] Field of Search..... 273/142 H, 142 HA, 142 R, 273/142 A, 142 B, 142 C, 142 D, 142 E, 142 5,132.0 424, 342, 15231311 2 1c,

273/142 JD, 142 K; 35/35 F, 31 A, 74;

40/70 R, 70 A; 235/78, 78 A, 78 G, 78 F,

' 235/78 N, 78 M,: 78 RC, 116;

[56] References Cited 74,509 4/1954 Netherlands 40/70 R Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle Assistant Examiner-Arnold W. Kramer Attorney, Agent, or Firm--Walter Leuca [5 7] ABSTRACT A vocabulary game device having a stationary disc inscribed with spaces in radial and concentric rows. Prefixes, suflixes and roots of words are inscribed in said spaces. Rotatively supported on the stationary disc is an intermediate disc having a plurality of openings which are radially spaced to expose inscribed spaces on the stationary disc, and angularly offset to provide a series of diagonally arranged openings over the radial row of inscribed spaces of the stationary disc. A top cover disc is further .providedhaving a plurality of openings angularly spaced there around at angles which are the quotient of the number of concentric rows of inscribed spaces divided into 360"; and each thereof being radially disposed from the center to one of the radial spaces of the stationary disc. The game device structure according to my invention allows the provision of numerous inscriptions which are the subject matter of the game and means for selecting only one of the inscriptions with a very low probability of repeat selection. a

3 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures VOCABULARY GAME DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to games and more particularly to a device for playing a vocabulary game.

2. Description of the Prior Art One of the principal objectives of my invention is to provide a means to improve ones vocabulary in a gaming atmosphere which is interesting, competitive, fun inducing and educationally enhancing as an end result. Though the prior art discloses many educational games, I am not aware of any such game which is effective to develop ones vocabulary by attracting attention to and directing the players concentration to the component parts of all words, that is, prefixes, roots, suffixes and commonly occurring letter combinations. The device of my invention is structured to contain a large quantity of such word components and operates toselect by chance only one set of such letters, roots, suffixes and prefixes for each operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION l accomplish the method and means of my invention by providing a stationary disc having inscribed in spaces provided in radial and concentric rows, letters, prefixes, suffixes and roots of words thereon. Rota tively supported on the stationary disc is an intermediate disc having a plurality of openings which are radially spaced to expose inscribed spaces on the stationary disc, and angularly'offset to provide a series of diagonally arranged openings over the radial row of inscribed spaces of the stationary disc. A top cover disc is further provided having a plurality of openings angularly spaced therearound at angles which are the quotient of the number of concentric rows of inscribed spaces divided into 360; and each thereof being radially disposed from the center to one of the radial spaces of the stationary disc. By this means, I provide a game device which may contain the maximum number of spaces for inscriptions of word parts, a rotating disc economically and simply structured to allow one expo sure per turn, and an intermediate disc also economically and simply structured which greatly reduces the probability of repetitious result thereby introducing the arbitrary chance aspect which is necessary for a game, and the maintenance ofa high level ofinterest throughout the playing of the game of my invention.

Further objectives and advantages of the game of my invention will become apparent after a more careful study of the following description and accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front view of the game of my invention;

FIG. 2 is a pictorial view showing the back side thereof;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged front elevation of the stationary disc of my invention having thereon spaces containing inscriptions in radial and concentric rows;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation of the intermediate disc showing a plurality of series of diagonally arrange openings;

FIG. 5 is a front elevation of the cover disc of my invention;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged front elevation of the stationary disc of my invention showing an additional concentric row of inscribed spaces, and fragments of intermediate disc and cover disc superimposed thereon;

FIG. 7 is a front elevation of the intermediate disc to accommodate the increased number of inscribed spaces of the stationary disc of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a front elevation of the cover disc of my invention to accommodate the increased number of openings of the intermediate disc of FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now more particularly to the above drawings, the game of my invention as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 are designated by the numeral 10. The game of my invention 10 comprises stationary disc 12 which is shown circular in shape and provided with a laterally extending portion 14 which serves as a base to support game device 10 and maintain disc 12 stationary and upright. Back rest 16 may be triangular wing members folded to extend rearward of stationary disc 12 to provide back support to assist in holding game device 10 upright. Connection of back rest 16 to stationary disc 12 is made by center fastener 18 which also serves to rotatively support intermediate disc 20 and cover disc 22. Stationary disc 12 is provided with a plurality of spaces 24 arranged therearound in concentric rows 26 which are radially divided intorows 28. In each of said spaces 24 are inscribed letters of the alphabet, groups of letters which spell unfinished words in the form of prefixes, suffixes, roots and letter combinations commonly appearing in words.

Intermediate disc 20 is provided with a center hole 30 for mounting on center fastener pin 18 of stationary disc 12 and fitted for rotation thereon. Intermediate disc 20 is further provided with a plurality of openings 32 which are arranged in diagonal series or groups such as 34, each of said openings 32 of each series 34 are radially stepped and diagonally contiguous. Each opening 3210f each series 34 overlays a radially disposed and diagonally offset inscribed space 24 on stationary disc 12. Corresponding openings 32 for each series or groups of diagonally contiguous openings on intermediate disc 20 is angularly disposed around disc 20 at every fourth space since there are four inscribed spaces in each concentric radial row 26 on stationary disc 12. This arrangement of spaced openings 32 in intermediate disc 20 allows the exposure of one inscribed space in each row 26 on stationary disc 12, and each thereof being radially stepped to form a series of diagonal groups across the radial extent of the concentric rows 26.

Cover disc22 is closed with the exception of four openings 36 radially placed so that each will be superimposed over one of the openings 32 in each concentric row 26, and angularly displacedat distances equal in degrees to a quotient derived from the number of concentric rows 26 divided into 360, which in this illustration is The novel structure of the means of my invention accomplishes the allowance of an exposure of one of the spaces on stationary'disc 12 from the many provided through one of openings 36 in cover disc 22 and one of openings 32 in intermediate disc 20 while all the others are blocked out.

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 shows a modification of my invention in that my invention may accommodate any number of concentrically patterned spaces on stationary disc 112. The geometric structure of intermediate disc 120 and cover disc 122 is similar and the location of additional openings is determined by utilizing the same formula.

For example, an increased number of inscribed spaces on stationary disc 112 is provided by adding radially concentric row 126 which as illustrated in FIG. 6 total five concentric rows of inscribed spaces. Additional openings 132 in intermediate disc 120 are provided following the same formula explained for intermediate disc 20. As shown in FIG. 8, an additional opening 136 is provided and placed according to the formula described for cover disc 22. Accordingly, the structure of my invention may be easily designed and economically manufactured to provide any number of inscribed spaces to contain the subject matter of any game and cover disc 122 will operate to allow the showing of only one, to the exclusion of all the others, inscribed space for every turn. In like manner, intermediate disc 120 operates to almost eliminate the probability of repetitious selection with the desired result that multiple players of the game of my invention will not uncover the same inscribed spaces.

The preferred method of my game is to inscribe letters of the alphabet in each space of stationary disc 12 to provide individual letters, commonly occurring letter combinations, roots of words, prefix and suffix of words, since by recognizing these parts of words and their meaning, will one permanently gain an increase in vocabulary since suffixes, prefixes and roots generally have the same etymology and from the knowledge thereof, one can construct the meaning of unknown words. Accordingly, the method of my game is to rotate intermediate disc and cover disc 22 and on the stopping thereof, an inscribed space will be exposed. The player then records the inscribed parts of words. A preferred method of playing is for one player to rotate the intermediate and cover discs 20 and 22 respectively, a select number of times, each time writing down on a score sheet the inscribed letters exposed in the opening of cover disc 22 and intermediate disc 20 before another player begins. The second player will follow suit and rotate the discs 20 and 22 the same number of select times and he will write down on his score sheet the parts of words exposed through openings of cover disc 22 and intermediate disc 20. Of course, if the players all have their own game device 10 of my invention, this activity may be done at the same time. After all the players have written down the parts of words, they are then required to write as many completed words containing parts of words previously written down utilizing any of the said parts of words, all this to be done within a certain time limit. A suitable scoring system may be provided so that the player having the greatest number of completed words composed from parts of words within the time limit established, will be the winner of each game contest.

I claim:

1. A word game device comprising:

a stationary disc having inscribed thereon a plurality of spaces arranged in radial rows and concentric rows having indicia inscribed therein;

an intermediate disc having a plurality of openings therethrough rotatively mounted concentrically on said stationary disc, said plurality of openings arranged in a plurality of groups, each of said groups extending across said concentric rows of spaces on said stationary disc, each of said openings of each of said groups being diagonally contiguous relative to each other; and i a cover disc mounted concentrically on said stationary disc for rotation independent of said intermediate disc, said cover disc provided with a plurality of openings therethrough, each thereof being radially and angularly located therein whereby indexing of the openings of said intermediate disc with the indiciaed spaces on the stationary disc together with an indexing of the cover disc wherein any one opening in the cover disc indexing an opening in the intermediate disc reveals the indicia therethrough with the rest of the cover disc openings not being indexed to any intermediate opening.

2. The game device of claim 1 wherein the indicia inscribed in said spaces of said stationary disc is further characterized as word prefixes, suffixes and roots.

3. The game device of claim 1 wherein said openings of said cover disc are further characterized as being angularly displaced around said cover disc at equal angles and each are radially located for superimposition on a single different concentric row of indiciaed spaces on said stationary disc. 

1. A word game device comprising: a stationary disc having inscribed thereon a plurality of spaces arranged in radial rows and concentric rows having indicia inscribed therein; an intermediate disc having a plurality of openings therethrough rotatively mounted concentrically on said stationary disc, said plurality of openings arranged in a plurality of groups, each of said groups extending across said concentric rows of spaces on said stationary disc, each of said openings of each of said groups being diagonally contiguous relative to each other; and a cover disc mounted concentrically on said stationary disc for rotation independent of said intermediate disc, said cover disc provided with a plurality of openings therethrough, each thereof being radially and angularly located therein whereby indexing of the openings of said intermediate disc with the indiciaed spaces on the stationary disc together with an indexing of the cover disc wherein any one opening in the cover disc indexing an opening in the intermediate disc reveals the indicia therethrough with the rest of the cover disc openings not being indexed to any intermediate opening.
 2. The game device of claim 1 wherein the indicia inscribed in said spaces of said stationary disc is further characterized as word prefixes, suffixes and roots.
 3. The game device of claim 1 wherein said openings of said cover disc are further characterized as being angularly displaced around said cover disc at equal angles and each are radially located for superimposition on a single different concentric row of indiciaed spaces on said stationary disc. 